ANKARAGUCU MOVE INTO THE PLAY-OFF ZONE !

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

On a cool but sunny morning, the kankas met-up at The Kara Simit Cafe for coffee and tea – Maniac Kanka Harun, Horseman Kanka Osman and yours truly.   We were later joined by Battle Damaged Kanka Damon and Nurer Kanka at the Stadium.

A  good turnout today with Gecikondu full (as usual), and Maraton and Sag Kapali were almost full.   There were about 150 in the away end, but when they tried to sing, they were shouted-down and drowned-out, so they gave-up which, after all, was the sensible thing to do !   There is no love lost by both sets of supporters since Ankaragucu defeated Bolu in the Turkish Cup Final in May 1981 and that still rankles with Bolu supporters, but ......this writer says ............ ha ha ha ho ho ho !!!

Sedat led the team out to a rousing welcome, but we were all disappointed that there was no place in the starting line-up for Kehinde.   It may not be appropriate for me to comment on Ismail Bey’s tactics, but .............. I will nevertheless !!

When we are playing at home, I think it’s essential that we play with a 4-4-2 formation and put pressure on the visiting team from the off.   Umut ploughed a lone furrow up front yesterday for the whole match, and fortunately it worked out in the end.   However, against stronger teams than Bolu we may not be so fortunate, especially if one or two goals are conceded early in the match !

Team – Korcan, Alihan, Gencer, Mehmet S, Erdem, Arif, Seda , Ilhan, Doka, Kenan  and Umut

ANKARAGUCU   2        Boluspor     0

Anyway, back to the match and it was Bolu who got off to a flyer putting Ankaragucu under pressure for the first 15 minutes.   Three good chances were scorned by Bolu, but bad finishing prevented them opening the scoring.

Ankaragucu’s first goal attempt on the quarter hour mark was a header from a cross sent over too high and the header went over the bar.

The Bursa song on 16 minutes almost heralded the opening goal by Bolu, when Korcan punched a goal bound shot out, but only to a Bolu player who’s shot went narrowly past.   Two minutes later Ankaragucu almost took the lead when Umut’s shot hit the bar, but the shot from the rebound was spectacularly saved.

Ankaragucu started to take control of the match at this point and were spraying the ball around to good effect.   Such a move almost brought the opening goal on the half hour mark but the cross was headed over.

8 minutes later some good work from Doka (who put in a good shift) when he won possession and crossed, only for the flicked header to go just past the post.

Then, as we were contemplating going in all square at half time, the breakthrough came.

A high ball was sent forward, but the bounce of the ball was misread by the Bolu defence which fell favourably for Umut.   Off he scampered down the left with the defenders in his wake.   His shot inside the left post left the goalkeeper helpless – he was probably anticipating a shot towards the right post !

So, this goal gave a more accurate reflection of the first half, which apart from the opening 15 minutes, was controlled by Ankaragucu.   On the few occasions when Bolu tried to attack, the Ankaragucu defence held firm and Korcan was not really tested.

With Ankaragucu attacking the Gecikondu end in the 2^nd half, we all predicted 2 more goals.   However, Ankaragucu seemed to lose their impetus and although they had a few efforts on goal, they didn’t really put the Bolu goalkeeper under any serious pressure.   The same could be said for Bolu, with Korcan not called upon to save any serious goal bound shots.

Umut was still scurrying around and looking to put the match beyond Bolu, and his persistence finally paid off 3 minutes before the end.   Couldn’t see who it was who received a great pass and measured his ferocious shot well, but the ball rebounded off the post.   However, the predatory striker that Umut is, was lurking and fired in the rebound to send us all wild in the knowledge that it was the nail in the coffin for Bolu !    Umut received a yellow card for holding the match up as he celebrated at the Gecikondu end.    I did notice however that as the referee brandished the yellow card (as he had to) he also had a word in Umut’s ear and had a smile on his face !!!

So, it was off to The Yeni Sedir to celebrate 4 wins in a row and a leapfrog into the play-off zone.    However, for one of the kankas it was Ayran .......... shame shame shame .......... but we can forgive him just this once ....... can’t we ???!!!

Well done Ankaragucu.

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim